Today was a beach day for my two older girls and me. Alyssa is just shy of 19 and Lelly is 16. I remember the days when they were small and by small I mean the days after I just gave birth to Lelly. Alyssa was almost 3 years old and Thomas almost 5. Lelly was such an easy baby. I mean she had to be what with the chaos she was born into with Thomas undiagnosed and unmedicated at that age. I remember that just getting through the day was an accomplishment with 3 kids under the age of 5. Everything you want to do is put on hold when your kids are young. Hobbies, spare time activities (“spare time” ha!), even friendships take a hit if they aren’t in a similar boat as you. I remember my best friend Jenn was my life saver, always there to talk to when the kids were on my last nerve or Tommy was working overtime as he often had to. Without that friendship at that time I don’t know what I would have done.
I never imagined my children as young adults or older children when they were young. I was too busy trying to figure out what was for dinner that night. I’m glad I didn’t have any plans preconceived notions about them. I like that they surprised me and turned out to be people I actually like being around and they like being around each other. Especially Alyssa and Lelly. They are very close and I love that. They fight; don’t think it’s always goodness and light around here but they don’t hate each other when they do fight. And they are quick to make amends. They are also quick to include me in many plans they have. Like today; they wanted a beach day and I was more than happy to go.
We had a great time just the three of us. Taking and laughing, laughing at ourselves and each other. It was nice plain and simple. To be around family and it is effortless is such a gift. We can talk about probably anything, we talk about church, school, their peers, God…no subject is taboo or off limits. Sometimes we dont talk at all. I’m grateful for my girls. The Lord has gifted me. I never thought in those early days of me pulling my hair out that I would be in this awesome place now in my life where we can just hang out and be together. It’s wonderful and I look forward to more days like this in the future.
Menay O; mom to 4, Christian and thrift shopper on the side... 